Chambers call strike on July 19 against ‘anti-business’ tax measures
Pakistan’s major chambers of commerce on Thursday announced a nationwide strike on July 19 in protest against what they described as anti-business measures introduced in the Finance Act FY26 and proposed provincial labour policies. The Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) said the strike was being organised in collaboration with leading chambers and trade bodies across the country. KCCI President Muhammad Jawed Bilwani stated the decision followed extensive consultations with chambers, associations, and business stakeholders who had expressed alarm over rising harassment and arbitrary enforcement. “This is not just KCCI’s protest. It is a unified national stance of the business community,” Bilwani said. He cited several contentious provisions introduced in the budget, including a Rs200,000 threshold on cash transactions, sweeping powers of arrest under Section 37A of the Sales Tax Act, and the mandatory implementation of digital invoicing and e-billing. “These are impractical, unjustified, and will push businesses further into the informal economy,” he warned.